FAQ’s

What is a Chartered Town Planner?

Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) signifies that its holder has knowledge, skills and competence in spatial planning in appropriate depth and detail. Read more here

Do Chartered Town Planners have to follow a Code of Conduct?

Yes, the RTPI has a Code of Professional Conduct that all Chartered Town Planners must observe. The first section of the Code states that:

The Chartered Object of the Royal Town Planning Institute is to advance the science and art of town planning for the benefit of the public. It is the purpose of this Code to ensure that in all their professional activities members of the Royal Town Planning Institute:

a)      shall act with competence, honesty and integrity;

b)      shall fearlessly and impartially exercise their independent professional judgement to the best of their skill and understanding;

c)      shall discharge their duty to their employers, clients, colleagues and others with due care and diligence in accordance with the provisions of this Code;

d)      shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, sex, sexual orientation, creed, religion, disability or age and shall seek to eliminate such discrimination by others and to promote equality of opportunity;

e)      shall not bring the profession or the Royal Town Planning Institute into disrepute.

The whole of the Code and details of the RTPI’s complaints procedure can be found here

What exactly is Town Planning?

Planning involves twin activities: the management of the competing uses for space, and the making of places that are valued and have an identity. These twin activities focus on the location and quality of social, economic and environmental change. In setting out its vision for planning, RTPI uses the term spatial planning to encompass them.

Spatial planning operates at all the different possible scales of activity, from large-scale national or regional strategies to the more localised design and organisation of towns, villages and neighbourhoods.

We recognise that the planning system can be confusing at times and our institute aims to explain it in a way that people can understand. The Institute offers a number of tools to help. See here

Where can I study town/spatial planning?

Several institutions offer courses in town planning and related subjects. Note that it is necessary to study either a ‘combined’ course or both specialist and spatial to qualify for Chartered Town Planner status. Read more (including links to universities) here 

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